because life is short ...and God gave us steak

Avocado Tortellini Salad

Creamy Avocado Tortellini Salad, with healthy black beans and veggies, is perfect for entertaining or for a potluck!

We are blessed with fabulous neighbors …on one side anyway. And over the years, we have gotten together with them many times for various holidays and celebrations. I seem to always provide ribs, deviled eggs, and cheesy bacon-wrapped jalapenos, and they provide beans, burgers, more deviled eggs, and a salad with tortellini. I always look forward to this salad – tortellini in salad is simply awesome. My neighbor does it Caesar-style, with romaine and croutons. And in my version here, I went west. Or southwest. Whichever, this salad is creamy, awesome, healthy, and perfect for that party or backyard barbecue.

I have an Avocado Herb Dressing that is very versatile. I absolutely love this dressing – I’ve used it over stuffed poblano peppers, in a taco salad with grilled veggies, and in a healthy lunch. It’s just a really nice, healthy dressing that goes well with most everything. So I threw it in this salad with the tortellini and added other yummy stuff like black beans, tomatoes, and queso fresco. So yummy! Sabroso! ..(no, I don’t speak Spanish. I googled ‘yummy’).

Just toss everything together and serve immediately. If you aren't serving right away, keep the dressing separate until ready to serve - the dressing will keep for a day, but because of the avocado it will oxidize once added to the rest of the ingredients. Serves a small crowd.

I am having friends over Saturday, and this looks like a beautiful flavorful salad to serve!

http://ericasrecipes.com Erica (@Erica’s Recipes)

Great! I hope you try it! thanks so much Julie!

http://smellmykitchen.com Marc @ Smell My Kitchen

My mom always makes a pasta salad with mayonnaise and vegetables of all kind in it and it’s super good. I can only agree with you that tortellini in salad is wonderful.

Sometimes it’s the little things in life..!

http://ericasrecipes.com Erica (@Erica’s Recipes)

yes it is Marc – thanks so much 🙂

Lisa Bleile

Hello Erica
I love your blog!!!
I was wondering if u could send out to us followers your neighbor’s version of this tortellini salad Caesar style…
I love everything Caesar just not a big fan of black beans 🙁
So thank you and keep blogging cuz I am a big fan!

http://ericasrecipes.com Erica (@Erica’s Recipes)

LOL Lisa, you know what the funny thing is? My neighbor uses bottled Caesar dressing! Yep, that’s it. So tortellini, grape tomatoes, chopped romaine lettuce, and purchased croutons. Or if you want, you can just take my Caesar Salad recipe and add tortellini to that 🙂 Here’s the link: http://ericasrecipes.com/2013/04/caesar-salad/. Thank you so much for your kind words about my blog! I’m so glad you enjoy it!!!

http://lifecurrents.dw2.net/ Debi @ Life Currents

This looks and sounds great! I would like to dive in and just swim around nibbling at it. And, what’s with the fact that one neighbor is good and the other, well, not so much. Why is it always like that? weird! I guess at least we have a good one. Thanks for this recipe. Pinned so I can make it later! 🙂

http://www.plattertalk.com Platter Talk

Fantastic preparation of avocados here, Erica! Very nicely done and so appealing!

This sounds and looks absolutely amazing, Erica! I clicked over here from Michelle’s Foodie Fridays link. I’m a tortellini “addict” to a degree as I frequently have some of the packaged tortellini in the fridge to mix up with whatever strikes me. But, this is definitely a much more elevated and delicious-appearing dish that I can’t wait to try! I would substitute basil for the cilantro because I’m not a fan of the latter is all. Your pictures are out of this world terrific! Thank you for sharing 🙂

http://ericasrecipes.com Erica (@Erica’s Recipes)

wow thank you Mike! Tortellini is special, isn’t it? Dunno what it is, but I’ll take it anyday over other stuffed pastas 🙂 So funny about cilantro – I hated it for years so I completely get that. Then suddenly, I loved it – I have not idea what happened, I think it was a pregnancy thing. Anyway, thanks so much for stopping over and for such kind words!!

http://www.musingsofavintagejunkie.blogspot.com AnnMarie

This is exactly the type of salad my husband and I love eating as a main dish meal. It LOOKS so good and the ingredients sound so good. Pinned!

http://ericasrecipes.com Erica (@Erica’s Recipes)

thank you so much AnnMarie! I hope you both get to try it and it you do, please let me know!

Welcome! I'm Erica ...wife, mother, and scientist, passionate about triathlons and pizza. Join me on my quest to enjoy all things food - both healthy and indulgent. After all, life is about balance right?